By Matthew Legg Business editor

Last updated 12:36, Thursday, 07 August 2008

One of west Cumbria’s best-known pubs has closed as the county’s drinks trade slips further into the financial mire.

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Happier times: The Dovenby Ship was relaunched by David Caddy and Lorraine Tierney last April

The Dovenby Ship, at Dovenby near Cockermouth, has ceased trading just over a year after it was relaunched under new owners.

The business sank after the company that operates it applied to be placed into voluntary liquidation.

The Ship is the latest casualty in what has become a bleak year for Cumbria’s pub trade.

The economic downturn, the credit crunch, cheap drinks in supermarkets and the smoking ban have conspired to create tough trading conditions for the county’s boozers.

The Dovenby Ship was relaunched by David Caddy and Lorraine Tierney on April 30 last year.

The pair revamped the pub’s kitchen, garden, function rooms and three bedrooms and introduced a new menu.

But Mr Caddy’s company, The Ship (Dovenby) Ltd, this week instructed Manchester insolvency specialsts Poppleton and Appleby to place it into liquidation.

The pub is owned by Punch Taverns, which says it is working to reopen it.

In a statement, Punch Taverns said: “The licensee has taken the decision to close the pub.

“We will be working with the licensee to see if we can resolve the situation. Our main priority is to get the pub trading as soon as possible.

“At this stage, it is difficult for us to comment further as we do not want to jeopardise current discussions. However, we are committed to getting the pub open as soon as possible.”

Punch declined to comment on why the pub had been closed, but said: “In the current economic climate village pubs all over the country are suffering as people turn towards drinking at home, rather than in their local pub.

“We will try to do all we can to support local pubs through this difficult time.”

Mr Caddy, 36, of Greysouthen, near Cockermouth, had previously managed and opened seven Cumbrian pubs, including Wetherspoons in Workington.

He managed the Lloyds No. 1 bar in Carlisle before taking control at Dovenby.

He had also held a management position with brewers Jennings and worked in pubs in Macclesfield and Wigan.

There will be a meeting for creditors at Lamont Pridmore accountants, 3 Oxford Street, Workington, on August 21 at 1.30pm.